Folding cot



March 16, 1948. M, LACKEY 2,438,059

FOLDING COT Filed April 6, 1946 I0 iq 26 2/ 28 Z4 I N V E N T OR. Rufus Miackgq B) Z r ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16,1948 i FOLDING oo'r Rufus M. Lackey, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Brown Service Funeral Homes Company, Inc., a corporation of Alabama Application April 6, 1946, Serial No. 660,155

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a folding cot, or-

stretcher, such as is employed in amlbulances, hospitals and the like and has for an object the provision of apparatus of the character designated which shall be adapted to be moved around close quarters and narrow passages without disturbing unnecessarily the person on the cot.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a cot of the character designated with an end portion pivotally connected to the body of the cot which is comprised of two sections hingedly connected together along a line diagonally of the end portion, whereby one side of said portion may be swung upwardly to provide a narrow end adapted to move around corners and through doorways in narrow passages, such as when entering and leaving an airplane.

A more specific object of my invention is the provision of a folding cot or stretcher Which shall be particularly adapted for loading and removing injured persons and invalids into and from airplanes.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the foot rest drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a. sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show a main frame consisting of longitudinal members I!) and II preferably made of light metal tubing and joined together at their ends by transverse members 2 and I3 and having mounted thereon a plurality of longitudinally extending strap members |4 joined together by transverse strap members I6 for supporting a mattress or pad. The main frame thus described is mounted on a sub frame comprising longitudinal members ll, only one being shown, connected at their ends to fittings I8 which are in turn connected to fittings I9 and 2| on the main frame. The usual casters 22 are mounted in the corner fittings 8, as shown in Fig. 2. A U-shaped handle 23 is joined rigidly to the fittings 2| of the main frame for manipulating the cot. Also similar handles 20 and 25 project upwardly from the sides of the main frame.

At 24 is shown a U-shaped frame member which is pivoted to the main frame at 26 and 21, which frame member comprises the usual head piece, or head rest. of the cot. The outer end of the head rest is adjustably supported by means 2 of racks 28 and 29 pivotally connected at 3| and 32 to the outer end of the head rest. The racks are slotted as shown at 33 in Fig. 2 of the drawing, a transverse rod 34 extending through both slots and engaging in teeth 36 in the racks to hold the head piece in adjusted position. The head rest is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending metal straps 31, joined at their ends .by transverse straps 38 and'39 for supporting the head end of the pad or mattress.

The foot rest, 01 foot end portion, of my improved cot is comprised of two frame members 4| and 42, which together form an articulated frame of generally U-shape, similar to that comprising the head rest. The member 4| is comprised of a tube joined at the end adjacent the main frame to a fitting 43 which is hingedly connected to the main frame at 44. At 46 I show a fitting joined to the fitting 43 by a transverse member 41 and pivotally connected to the main frame at 48. The frame member 4| extends outwardly from the main body and bends around to a point substantially along the long axis of the cot to terminate in a fitting 49 which is connected to the fitting 48 by means of a diagonally extending member 5|. The frame member 42 is provided at its outer end with a fitting 52 having a lug 53 thereon which extends between jaws 54 and 56 on the fitting 49, and is pivotally connected thereto by a hinge bolt 51. The inner end of the frame member 42 is provided with a fitting 58 which is joined to the fitting 46 by a hinge bolt 59. The bolts 51 and 59 extend in an angular direction with respect to the long axis of the cot and in line with each other, whereby the section 42 may be swung upwardly with respect to the section 4 The pivotal connection of the frame section 42 to the section 4| is shown in detail in Fig. 4. The fitting 52 is provided with 2. lug 62 which extends downwardly beneath the fitting 49 to engage it and limit the downward swinging movement of the frame section 42. A similar lug 63 (shown in dotted lines) is provided on the fitting 58 and extends downwardly beneath the fitting 46. The outer end of the frame section 4| has a rack 64 pivotally connected thereto which extends rearrwardly beneath the main frame, as shown. The rack is provided with a slot 66 through which a rod 61, carried by the sub frame, passes and which is adapted to hold the foot portion in adjusted position.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that my improved cot is especially adapted for movement around corners and in narrow passages, particularly for entering and leaving an airplane. The apparatus is light of weight and may be manipulated by means of the end handle 23 or the side handles 20 or 25. The head portion frame and foot portion frame may be readily adjusted as to height by means of the pivotal supports and racks shown. Whenever it becomes necessary to move around a turn in a close passage, as when entering or leaving. an airplane, the section 42 0f the foot frame may be swung upwardly, thus narrowing the width of that por tion sufficientl for the turn to be made.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised an improved cot of the character described which is simple and sturdy of construe-.- tion and capable of ready manipulation.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those'skilled i the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible iof'va'rious changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof. and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placedthereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is: V v

1. In a fol-ding cot of the character described, a main body frame, an end portion-hinged to the main body frame transversely thereof and comprising two sections hinged together'along a line diagonal to the long axis of the cot.

2. In a folding cot of thecharacter described, a main body frame, an end portion hingedto the main body frame transversely thereof and comprising two triangular sections hinged together along a line diagonalto the lone-axis of thecot for one section to swing upwardly.

3. In a folding cot of the-character-described. a main body frame, anend portion hingedto the main body frame transversely thereof, comprising two triangular sections hinged together. along a line diagonal to thelong axis of the cot forxon'e section to swing upwardly, and lugs for limiting downward swinging movement'of said last mentioned section.

4. In a folding cot of'the character described, a main body portion, a foot rest comprising a triangular section having one side hinged toone end of the bodytransversel'ythereof, means-for adjusting the height of the outer' end of said triangular section with respect to the main body portion and a second triangular section hinged to the first mentioned triangular portion along one side thereof.

5. In a folding cot of the character described, a generally U-shaped foot rest comprising a triangular section with its base pivotally-connected to one end of the cot and narrowing its outer end, and a second triangular section of a dimension to complete the general U-shape of the foot restand hinged to the first mentioned triangular section along one side thereof to swing upwardly therefrom.

6. In a folding cot of the character described, a generally u shaped foot rest comprising a triangular section with its base pivotally connected 'to one end of the cot and narrowing toward its outer end, and a second triangular section of a dimension to complete the general U-shape of the foot rest and hinged to the first mentioned triangular section along one side thereof 'to swing upwardly therefrom, and means coacting between the triangular sections to limit downward swings ing movement of the second triangular section,

7. In a folding cot of the character described, a generally Ushaped foot rest comprising a triangular section with its base pivotally connected to one end of the cot and narrowing toward its outer end, a second triangular section of a dirnensionv tocomplete the general U-shape of the foot rest and hinged to the first mentioned triangular section along one side thereof to swing upwardly therefrom, mean-s coacting between the triangularsections to limit downward swinging movement of the second triangular section. and means to adjust thepositio'nof the-foot rest with respect to the-cot.

RUFUS M. LACKEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 31,936 Seidler Apr. 2,. I861 1,265,848 Wheeler May-'14; I918 2,203,398 weinlmancunuanu. June 4, 194.0 

